Ironing attachment for automatic hosiery drying machines



April 12, 1938. H. HEMMERICH 2M385 TTACHMENT FOR AUTOMATIC HOSIERY DRYING MACHINES IRONING A 2 sheets-shea 1 Filed May 5, 1935 m n N mf N E R V w. m T

H. HEMMERICH 22113,@05

OMATIC HOSIERY DRYING` MACHINES April 12, 1938.

IRONING ATTACHMENT FOR AUT Filed May 5, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INI/EN TOR:

lza limrch, BY

WA TTORNEM( Patented Apr. 12, 1938 Im'rarrr OFFICE IRNING ATTACI-INIENT FOR AUTOMATIC HOSIERY DRYING MACHINES Hugo Hemmerich, Wyomissing, Pa., assigner to Berkshirelnitting Mills, Wyomissing, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application May s, 1935, serial No. 19,547

2 claims." (o1. 22a- 60) Withthis and other objects in view, which will lThis invention relates toV an ironing attach'- ment for automatic stocking drying machines, and particularly to ironing rolls, adapted to be applied to an automatic drying machine. for pressing or ironing a portion' of a stocking as the stocking moves from the exit of the drying machine. One of the present practices in drying stockings consists in passing a series of stocking forms, containing dampened stockings, successively through a drying chamber. In mounting` a stocking on a form, -it had heretofore been the practice of stretching the stocking downwardly thereover, and holding it in position on the form by a padded clamp located on each side thereof for engaging the welt portion of the stocking. Difficulties have arisen with this arrangement, in that the use of clamps engaging the welt, retard the drying operation thereof, consequently requiring a higher temperature in the dryer, which higher temperature is not necessary insofar as the remainder of the stocking is concerned, and adversely affects the appearance of the stocking. This excess of temperature results: in a greater consumption of steam to achieve the desired results.

Another dii'liculty arises due to the use of these welt engaging clamps in that the operator requires considerable time to smooth out the welt portion before the clamp means functions, and this fact necessitates frequent stopping of the machine, thus decreasing production. Invariably, the picot edge due to its construction, presents portions which are turned back on themselves, and due to the sudden action of the clamping means, these wrinkles are pressed into the welt. Further, these wrinkles, and reversely folded pivot edges, are permanently pressed into the welt by the heat imparted to the clamp while passing through the drying chamber, and the pressure exerted by the clamps.

Another disadvantage of the use of padded clamps for engaging the welt of the stocking, is due to the fact that often, the pads become creased and waved, due to varying conditions of moisture and temperature. This condition creates an uneven pressing action while the form passes through the drying chamber, thus forming corresponding waves in the welt of the dried stocking.

An object of this invention is to produce a novel arrangement of ironing rolls of the type referred to, which will eliminate the above and other difculties incident to the treatment of textile fabrices in a drying machine.

become apparent from the following detailed description of one embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings, the invention resides in the novel elements, features of construction and combination of parts in cooperative relationship as more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front view of an automatic drying machine provided with an embodiment of my invention;

qFig. 2 is a partial end View of Fig. 1, particularly illustrating the exit of the automatic drying machine, and the relation of anembodiment of my invention with respect to said exit;

Fig. 3 is a plan view ofthe ironing rollers, bases therefor, and the stocking form between the rollers, as seen by looking in the direction of the arrows 3 3 of Fig. 1;

Fig, 4 is an enlarged view of the ironing unit detached from the automatic drying machine;

Fig. 5. is an end View of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional View of a preferred form of ironing roller, illustrating its antifriction mounting; and

Fig. '7 is a sectional View taken along the line 1-1 of Fig. 4.

Referring to the drawings, and specifically to Figure 1, a portion I of a conventional automatic drying machine comprises a drying chamber 2, having an entrance 3 and an exit 4. A track 5 is provided, about which the stocking supports 6 are propelled in a continuous path along the outside of the drying chamber, through said chamber, and b-ack again. One operator places the stockings on the form at position A, and another operator stretches the stocking at station B. The structure above referred to is of conventional form and is incident to an automatic drying machine of one type with which my invention is adapted to be employed.

The preferred embodiment of my invention is generally indicated at 1, a detailed view of which is shown in Fig. 4. The track 5 of the drying machine unit comprises two spaced complemental rail elements 8 and 9, each of which has a slot I 0 in one edge thereof. The rails 8 and 9 are positioned so that each slot faces the other, thereby providing a channel for the reception of the base II of the stocking forms 6. Upstanding brackets I2 and I3, which are conventional parts of an automatic drying machine, are mounted, respectively, on rails 9 and B, and the bracket I3 supports the guide element 30 which cooperates with the base of the stocking form 6; this structure constituting no part of the present invention. However, the brackets I2 and I3 provide bases for supporting brackets I9 and I5, Fig. 5, which, with brackets I2 and I3, support the ironing roller housing members I4 and I8. The members I4 and I8 comprise supporting means for resiliently-biased trunnioned rollers I6 and I'I. Supporting members I4 and I8 are identical, with the exception that support I4 has an elongated arm extending downwardly along bracket i2. Each of these members comprises a vertical supporting element and two horizontally disposed spaced brackets 3l, 32, 33 and 34, each of which has longitudinal slots therein providing supporting open-ended brackets, as clearly shown in Fig. 7. Located above the upper horizontal bracket and below the lower horizontal bracket of support I8, are bosses 20 and 2|, aligned with similar bosses 22 and 23 of member I4. Each of these bosses is bored and tapped to receive a threaded adjustable bearing bushing. Trunnion supports 24, 25, 28 and 2'I are mounted for reciprocation in the bearing bushings, and support on one end thereof the trunnions of the rollers I6 and il; the other ends 'of said supports pass through the bearing bushings, and are provided with lock, and adjusting nuts, screwed thereon. Intermediate the trunnion carrying ends, and the bearing bushings, are positioned compres.- sion springs 55, 46, 4'! and 48, which arey adapted to urge rollers I and Il towards each other, see Fig. 3. Brace members I5 and I9 additionally aid in the supporting of the roller housing members i4 and I8, and lend rigidity to the assembly. The adjustment of the nuts on the trunnion supports affects. the distance between the rollers I6 and Il, while the adjustment of the bearing bushings varies the effect of the springs l5-48.

The ironing rollers IBand I'I are identical, and the construction thereof is clearly shown in Fig. 6. The ironing roller I8 comprises a shaft 35 having a shouldered portion 39 near each end thereof, for properly positioning an inner raceway pressed thereon, on which the anti-friction balls are adapted to run. 'The roller per se, is constructed of a hollow cylinder of steel, the outer surface of which is highly polished. The ends of kthe roller I6 are internally counter-bored to receive an outer race-way 3l, which cooperates with the above mentioned inner race-way. This outer raceway is pressed into the counterbored portion of the roller I8.

Fig. 2 illustrates the relative position of the ironing roll with respect to its spaced distance from the exit of the drying chamber, and also its angular relation with respect to the position of the stocking form, as the form passes from the exit of said chamber. The roller unit 'I is spaced from the exit of the drying chamber to such an extent that the stocking welt on the form is at the optimum conditions of temperature and moistness for proper ironing, when the same reaches. the rolls. This position varies for individual machines, but it is always located in close proximity to the exit. In any event the ironing unit must not be at so great a distance from the exit of the drying chamber, that the stocking welt is permitted to cool and dry; otherwise improper ironing results.

The stocking form as it passes from the exit of the drying chamber, as disclosed in Fig. 2, is at a distinct angle to the vertical, inclining rearwardly in the direction of travel. This angular relation with respect to the vertical ironing rolls provides means whereby the welt is ironed on the bias. This phase of the invention insures the preservance of the wales of the ironed portion in a compact condition and prevents the spreading of the wales of the welts during ironing. Further, this relation of the iron and stocking, rolls or Vwipes the wrinkles from the welt. The angular relation of the rolls and form, prevents the spreading of the welt which would ordinarily occur, if the relation of the welt to the rolls was right angular. Further, if this angular relation did not exist, the ironing of the welt would cause wrinkles to be ironed therein.

From the above description it is apparent that an improved device for ironing stocking welts is provided, which eliminates the undesirable features incident to the treating of textile fabrics by mechanism heretofore used.

Of course, the improvements specifically shown and described, by which the above results are obtained, can be changed and modified in various( ways Without departing from the invention herein disclosed and Vhereinafter claimed.

I claim:

l. An ironing device adapted to be attached in close proximity to the exit of a drying machine, comprising a plurality of vertically arranged spaced brackets, a plurality of horizontally arranged arms extending from each of said vertical brackets, and provided with slotted ends, trunnioned rollers mounted between said hori- Zontal bars, with the trunnions passing through and extending beyond the slotted ends thereof, means controlling the movement of said rolls, and resilient means urging said rollers outwardly from their supporting brackets.

2. Ironing means adapted to be associated with textile treating apparatus comprising two similarly formed op-positely disposed supporting brackets, each of said brackets provided with spaced parallel supporting brackets, the ends of said last named brackets provided with open end slots adapted to receive trunnioned rollers, means resiliently biasing said rollers toward each other, and means for adjusting the biasing effect of the rollers.

HUGO HEMMERICH. 

